Employees giving the state a one-two punch

Minnesota State Roundup

Minnesota is facing both short- and long-term labor issues with
its employees. In the near view, nearly 30,000 state union workers57
percent of the state-employedwent on strike starting on Oct.
1 and lasting for two weeks. The two labor unions involved settled
for a two-year contract that, publicly, none of the sides appeared
satisfied with.

Possibly more ominous, the state government is facing a potentially
serious long-term labor shortage because it estimates that as many
as one-third of its employees will retire in the next 10 years;
for midlevel managers, whose average age is 55, the number is closer
to one-half. The state's employee relations department cited two
big reasons for the wave of possible retirements: The average starting
age is a relatively old 36, and many retire early from stressful
jobs like state trooper, prison guard and other law enforcement
positions.